Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Divine Guidance (Author unknown)

About 10 years ago when I was finishing off a 1 year stint serving with OMF in Singapore a missionary friend gave me this tract called 'Divine Guidance'. It has been used by me on several occasions as I reflected on many decisions in my life. As well, I have had the privilege of passing it on to others who are seeking God's direction and leading. I trust that as you read it you too will find it insightful in your spiritual pilgrimmage. I do not know who the author is but I am grateful for the revelation that God gave to them through this tract.

DIVINE GUIDANCE.
May we always be sure of Divine Guidance? The following simple rules may be helpful:
1) Be absolutely sincere
2) Let ONE and ONLY one, thought actuate you---the Glory of God
3) Be as willing (if God's wills) to have your request DENIED as granted. "While peace we seek or place we shun, The soul finds happiness in none; but with God to guide my way, 'Tis equal joy to go or stay."
4) Do not become agitated. If you have honestly missed God's first plan, He is considerate and glad to give you another opportunity. BELIEVE HIM!
5) Remember, God and His providences lead in only one direction at a time; therefore, never adopt a new course until you feel equally clear to abandon a former one.
6) Always recognize that YOU and your plans are HIS property. If so, you can afford to be set aside and unused if He can afford it,since your eye is single. The longer the delay, the larger the pay.
7) Be willing to submit your plans to your superiors. If your leadings are wholly of the Lord, they will survive all opposition.The more you are abused, the more you will be used.
8) Rest! If you are wholly His, everthing that comes to you is either sent or permitted by Him. If SENT, then it is the very best thing that could come. If PERMITTED, He stands ready, if you only BELIEVE, to rule and overrule all for your good and His glory.
9) Wait! When you do not know what to do, simply DO NOTHING. Wait until the fog clears away. Do not force a half-open door. Ability to hold still while under pressure gives God unlimited sway. A hurry spirit is always from beneath. "He that believeth shall not make haste."
10) Above all, see to it that all self interest and self seeking are gone. Few are wholly free from unsanctified ambition. Some believe they are, but the fact that they are uneasy when opposed is proof of lack of perfect resignation. Being dead to all things but GOD will enable one to keep calm, and make HIM responsible as to the outcome.


IMPRESSIONS (From GOD or SATAN)
Divine impressions are persuasive; God does not drive, but leads His children. Impressions from other sources are loud, clamorous, feverish, and seek to drown the Spirit's voice. You can detect the devil by one or two things. The devil talks loud; Jesus always talks low and tender. An impression can be made in a loud, boisterous, rushing, pell-mell sort of way, or can come quietly, gently tenderly and sweetly.Impressions from above always give sufficient time to the honest seeker to test their geniueness. Those from below are in a hurry and fearing detection, clamour for immediate decisions. The devils wants you to be in a hurry and rush and go pell-mell, and not wait for anything; whereas Jesus is always quiet and always calm, and always takes His time. When you take things to God in prayer, and you wait, if God makes an impression on the mind, it always comes gently, tenderly. The more you wait on God---if the conviction comes from the Holy Ghost--the more you wait and the more you pray, the stronger it becomes. If it comes from the devil, the more you wait the the more you pray, the weaker it grows. You can tell by that. Impressions from above Welcome the Light. Those from below shrink back from it. The first are to be catechized, the second are afraid of tests, and don't like to be questioned. Impressions from above, when followed, are attended by a sweet peace and the consciousness that they are right; those from below by perplexity and that something is wrong.The first brings rest. The second robs of it. Those from above make us feel "I ought to do so."Impressions from above ripen into convictions. Those from below never do. God never asks us to act on uncertainties. The devil comes with a suggestion and it appears to be the truth. He persistently pushes it. If resisted, he claims that those who do so are resisting the Spirit. don't forget that if the Holy Spirit inspires anything, He always gives time to consult upon it with God.

A TEST FOR IMPRESSION
Is it Scriptural? In harmony with God's will as revealed in the Word?
Is it right? In harmony with God's will as revealed in man's moral nature?
Is it providential? In harmony with God's will as revealed in God's providential dealings?
Is it reasonable? In harmony with God's will as revealed to a spiritually enlightened judgement?

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